Vittoria “Vicky” Piria believes Ferrari’s 2026 Formula 1 campaign is showing signs of being different from recent seasons, with the Scuderia returning to winning ways and climbing to second place in the Constructors’ Championship after a deeply disappointing 2025. However, the racing driver and Sky Sport F1 presenter believes one crucial test remains: whether Maranello can keep pace with its rivals as the development battle intensifies.
The Italian motorsport personality also expressed her delight at Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s remarkable 2026 campaign. The young Mercedes driver has established himself at the top of the championship, and Vittoria “Vicky” Piria has followed his progress for years through her close familiarity with his family.
Vittoria “Vicky” Piria combines racing with her Sky Sport F1 role
Whether she is behind the wheel of a racing car or in front of a television camera, motorsport and speed remain at the centre of Vittoria “Vicky” Piria’s career. The Italian driver has managed to turn her passion for racing into a profession both on track and in broadcasting, becoming part of the Sky Sport F1 motorsport team in 2024.
Since joining the broadcaster, Vittoria “Vicky” Piria has worked alongside Davide Camicioli, helping bring Formula 1 coverage into Italian homes while combining technical knowledge with an energetic and versatile television presence. Her experience as a racing driver gives her another perspective from which to assess the developments shaping the 2026 championship.
Vittoria “Vicky” Piria delighted by Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s 2026 rise
Any discussion of the Italian presence in the 2026 Formula 1 season inevitably leads to Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The young Bologna-born driver has been producing impressive results with Mercedes and currently leads the Drivers’ Championship, putting himself firmly in contention for the world title.
For Vittoria “Vicky” Piria, Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s success carries an additional personal significance because she has watched the Mercedes youngster develop over many years and knows his family well.
“I have to say I’m very happy about the moment Kimi Antonelli is experiencing and everything that is happening to him. It’s nice for him, but also for me. I’ve watched him grow up, I’ve known his family very well for many years, so yes, I’m very, very happy for him and for how well he is doing,” Vittoria “Vicky” Piria explained.
Ferrari’s 2026 F1 recovery earns positive assessment
Attention then turned to Ferrari, another major Italian storyline in the championship. After enduring a very poor 2025 campaign, the Maranello team has returned to victory in 2026 and currently occupies second place in the Constructors’ standings. The improvement represents a clear step forward, even if the Scuderia has not yet done enough to establish itself as the benchmark of the championship.
The challenge now is sustaining that progress. Ferrari’s ability to develop the SF-26 throughout the season will be particularly important as rival teams introduce their own packages, making the next phase of SF-26 development a crucial part of the team’s championship ambitions. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Vittoria “Vicky” Piria gave Ferrari’s start to the season a positive assessment but warned that the real test will come from how effectively the team responds to the development progress of its competitors.
“I give Ferrari’s start to the season a positive rating. We will have to see how good they are at keeping pace with the others when the upgrades arrive. So far, this has been one of Ferrari’s weaknesses: they take small steps while the others perhaps take bigger ones. But, in fact, this year the situation seems to be different. I hope they manage to do well; it would be good for the show,” Vittoria “Vicky” Piria explained.
Ferrari upgrade race could define whether 2026 really is different
That distinction is particularly important for the remainder of the campaign. Ferrari has already demonstrated that it can move forward compared with 2025, but remaining competitive requires the Scuderia to match the rate of improvement achieved elsewhere on the grid rather than allowing its rivals to make larger development gains.
The encouraging sign for Vittoria “Vicky” Piria is that the pattern appears to have changed in 2026. With Ferrari back to winning races and sitting second in the Constructors’ Championship, the foundations of a stronger campaign are already visible. How effectively Maranello develops its car over the remaining rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season will now help determine how far that recovery can go. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
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